On Saturday, May 7, 2011, shortly after 10:00 pm, Long Beach Police officers were called to the area of Florida Street and Cherry Avenue regarding an armed robbery that had just occurred. The suspects were described to police as two male Blacks and a handgun was used to commit the robbery.

Several minutes later, the same two suspects committed another armed robbery to a person in the 1800 block of East 3rd Street, which is several blocks away from the first robbery location. Believing the suspects were still in the general vicinity, numerous police officers responded to the area.

A patrol officer saw two male Black subjects who matched the description of the robbery suspects near 3rd Street and Esperanza Avenue. While attempting to detain them, the two subjects fled on foot from the officer and into a residential area. Officers quickly began to contain the area, however, in the course of setting up containment, the two subjects surfaced from the area and an officer involved shooting occurred.

Immediately following the shooting, one of the suspects was quickly apprehended and the other fled back into the neighborhood. The Long Beach Police Department’s SWAT team was activated to search for the suspect who fled. During the search of the area, SWAT officers found the suspect hiding and he was taken into custody after a K9 contact. Officers also found a handgun in the area where the suspect was hiding and detectives are currently investigating the possibility of this weapon being the one used by the suspects to commit the robbery. The identity of the suspects is being withheld pending further investigation.

Neither suspect nor officers were injured as a result of this officer involved shooting. The Long Beach Police Department’s is continuing the investigation and asks that anyone who may have information about this incident to call Long Beach Police Department’s Homicide Detectives Todd Johnson or Malcolm Evans at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via text or email by visiting www.longbeach.gov/police.